Peach tree named ‘Spring Candy’

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a peach tree,  Prunus persica , and more particularly to a new and distinct variety characterized by a medium size, vigorous, hardy, self-fertile, productive and regular bearing tree. The fruit matures under the ecological conditions described approximately the last week in June, with first picking on Jun. 25, 2002. The fruit is uniformly large in size, sub-acid and sweet in flavor, globose in shape, freestone in type, firm in texture, yellow with some red streaking in flesh color, and mostly red in skin color. The variety was developed as a first generation cross using ‘Spring Bright’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,507) yellow flesh nectarine as the selected seed parent and an unnamed peach as the selected pollen parent.

Botanical classification: Prunus persica.

Variety denomination: ‘Bright Princess’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This case is related to co-pending U.S. Plant Patent Application filed concurrently as Peach Tree Named ‘Bright Princess’.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

In a continuing effort to improve the quality of shipping fruits, I, the inventor, typically hybridize a large number of peach, nectarine, plum, apricot, and cherry seedlings each year. The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of peach tree, which has been denominated varietally as ‘Spring Candy’. The present variety was hybridized by me in 1996, grown as a seedling on its own root in my greenhouse, and transplanted to a cultivated area of my experimental orchard at Bradford Farms near Le Grand, Calif. in Merced County (San Joaquin Valley).

The variety was developed as a first generation cross using ‘Spring Bright’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,507) yellow flesh nectarine as the selected seed parent and an unnamed peach as the selected pollen parent. Subsequent to origination of the present variety of peach tree, I asexually reproduced it by budding and grafting in the experimental orchard described above, and such reproduction of plant and fruit characteristics were true to the original plant in all respects. The reproduction of the variety included the use of ‘Nemaguard’ (unpatented) rootstock upon which the present variety was compatible and true to type.

The present variety is similar to its selected seed parent, ‘Spring Bright’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,507) nectarine, by producing fruit that is globose in shape, firm and crisp in texture, mostly red in skin color, yellow in flesh color, and that ripen in the latter part of June, but is very distinguished therefrom by producing fruit that is freestone instead of clingstone, that is sub-acid instead of acid in flavor, and that is peach instead of nectarine in type.

The present variety is similar to the cross referenced ‘Bright Princess’ peach by sharing the same parentage and by producing peaches that are freestone in type, nearly full red in skin color, yellow in flesh color, and firm in texture, but differs significantly by producing peaches that have sub-acidic flavor instead of the classical acidic peach flavor, that have much more red streaking around the stone, that mature about 3 days later, and that have a bitter kernel instead of sweet.

The present variety is most similar to ‘Diamond Princess’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,066) peach by producing fruit that is yellow in flesh color, nearly full red in skin color, and freestone in type, but is distinguished therefrom and an improvement thereon by blooming about ten days earlier and by producing fruit that is firmer in texture, larger in size, sub-acid instead of acid in flavor, and matures about twelve days earlier.

SUMMARY OF VARIETY

In summary, the present variety is characterized by a medium size, vigorous, hardy, self-fertile, productive and regular bearing tree. The fruit matures under the ecological conditions described approximately the last week in June, with first picking on Jun. 25, 2002. The fruit is uniformly large in size, sub-acid and sweet in flavor, globose in shape, freestone in type, firm in texture, yellow with some red streaking in flesh color, and mostly red in skin color.

DRAWING

The accompanying photograph exhibits four whole fruits positioned to display the characteristics of the skin color and form, one fruit divided along the suture plane to reveal the flesh and stone, and typical leaves.

POMOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Referring now more specifically to the pomological characteristics of this new and distinct variety of peach tree, the following has been observed under the ecological conditions prevailing near Le Grand, Merced County (San Joaquin Valley), Calif., and was developed at the state of firm ripe on Jul. 3, 2002, on the original tree during its sixth growing season. All major color code designations are by reference to the Inter-Society Color Council, National Bureau of Standards. Common color names are also used occasionally.

Tree

Size: Medium, reaching a height of 11′ [3.35 m.] and a spread of 8′ [2.44 m.] after six growing seasons utilizing typical dormant pruning.

Vigor: Vigorous, responding typically to irrigation and fertilization. The variety grows about 3′ [0.91 m.] of surplus top-growth during the spring and summer. The plant should be grown on a standard commercial rootstock for production purposes.

Growth: Upright and dense.

Form: Original tree was trained by pruning to a central leader system, multiplied trees are vase formed.

Hardiness: Hardy with respect to central California winters.

Heat tolerance: Observed to perform adequately in typical central California climatic conditions, which typically include extended periods of heat.

Drought tolerance: Variety is developed for commercial orchards and requires regular irrigation.

Production: Very productive, thinning necessary.

Fertility: Self-fertile.

Bearing: Regular bearer with no alternate bearing yet observed.

Trunk:

Size.—Medium, with a maximum diameter of 3″ [76 mm.] after the sixth growing season.

Texture.—Shaggy.

Bark color.—Dark grayish brown [62. d.gy.Br].

Lenticels.—Approximate Number Per Square Inch: 12. Color: Deep orange yellow [69. deep OY]. Size: ⅛″ to ⅜″ [3.2-9.5 mm.].

Branches:

Size.—Diameter of limb is ⅞″ [22 mm.] measured 12″ from the central leader, typical of Prunus persica, and dependent upon cultural practices and climatic conditions.

Texture.—Smooth on 1st year wood, increasing roughness with age.

Color.—1st Year Wood Topside: Grayish red [19. gy.R]. 1st Year Wood Underside: Brilliant yellow green [116. brill.YG]. Older Wood: Dark yellowish brown [78. d.yBr].

Lenticels.—Approximate Number Per Square Inch: 60. Color: Moderate orange yellow [71. m.OY]. Typical size: {fraction (1/32)}″ to ⅛″ [0.8-3.2 mm.].

Leaves:

Size.—Medium. Average Length: 5¾″ [146 mm.]. Average width: 1⅝″ [41 mm.].

Arrangement.—Alternate.

Thickness.—Medium.

Form.—Elliptical.

Apex.—Acuminate.

Base.—Acute, with an average base angle of 75 degrees.

Surface.—Smooth.

Color.—Dorsal Surface: Moderate olive green [125. m.OlG]. Ventral Surface: Moderate yellow green [120. m.YG].

Margin.—Finely serrate.

Venation.—Pinnately net veined.

Petiole.—Average Length: {fraction (9/16)}″ [14.3 mm.]. Average Thickness: {fraction (1/16)}″ [1.6 mm.]. Color: Brilliant yellow green [116. brill.YG].

Stipules.—Number: 2 per leaf, up to 6 per growing tip. Average Length: {fraction (7/16)}″ [11.1 mm.]. Color: Brilliant yellow green [116. brill.YG] with slight Grayish reddish orange [39. gy.rO] tinting around the edges.

Glands.—Number: 2 to 8, usually 4 or more. Position: Usually alternately positioned on petiole and base of leaf blade. Size: Medium. Form: Reniform. Color: Brilliant yellow green [116. brill.YG].

Lead buds.—Conic.

Flower buds:

Hardiness.—Hardy, with respect to central California winters.

Diameter.—Typically {fraction (5/16)}″ [7.9 mm.] 1 week before bloom.

Length.—Typically {fraction (7/16)}″ [11.1 mm.] 1 week before bloom.

Form.—Not appressed.

Surface.—Pubescent.

Color.—Strong purplish pink [247. s.pPk].

Flowers: Perfect, complete, perigynous, usually a single pistil, typically thirty or more stamens, five sepals and petal locations alternately positioned.

Type.—Showy, very large.

Average flower diameter.—1{fraction (15/16)}″ [49.2 mm.].

Number of petals.—Usually five, with a small percentage of double blossoms observed.

Petal shape.—Circular.

Petal margin.—Somewhat wavy.

Average petal diameter.—{fraction (13/16)}″ [20.6 mm.].

Average petal length.—⅞″ [22.2 mm.].

Petal apex.—Rounded.

Petal base.—Rounded to slightly truncate.

Petal color.—Moderate purplish pink [250. m.pPk].

Anther color.—Deep red [13. deep R] over Light orange yellow [70. l.OY] centers.

Stigma color.—Light greenish yellow [101. l.gY].

Sepal color.—Dark purplish red [259. d.pR].

Sepal length.—{fraction (5/16)}″ [8 mm.].

Sepal width.—{fraction (9/32)}″ [7 mm.].

Average pistil length.—⅝″ [15.9 mm.].

Average stamen length.—{fraction (9/16)}″ [14.3 mm.].

Fragrance.—Moderate.

Blooming period.—Early to medium compared with other varieties.

Onset of bloom.—One percent on Feb. 25, 2002.

Date of full bloom.—Mar. 4, 2002.

Duration of bloom.—One to two weeks, dependent on ambient temperature.

Number per cluster.—1 to 3 with single flowers most common.

FRUIT

Maturity when described: Eating ripe, Jul. 3, 2002.

Date of first picking: Jun. 25, 2002.

Date of last picking: Jul. 6, 2002.

Size: Uniform, large.

Average diameter axially.—2⅞″ [73.0 mm.].

Average diameter across suture plane.—3{fraction (1/16)}″ [77.8 mm.].

Typical weight.—7.1 ounces [201 grams].

Form: Uniform, symmetrical, globose with slight axial compression on most.

Longitudinal section form.—Circular to slightly elliptical.

Transverse section through diameter.—Circular.

Suture: A sharp groove from the stem to the shoulder, a distinct line along the side, a shallow groove toward the apex, and ending with a slight depression just beyond the pistil point, with occasional stitching typical.

Ventral surface: Rounded, lipped toward the base on both sides.

Lips: Mostly equal, a minor percentage slightly unequal.

Cavity: Flaring, elongated in the suture plane, suture showing on both side, with Brilliant orange yellow [67. brill.OY] stem markings typical.

Depth.—⅝″ [15.9 mm.].

Breadth.—1″ [25.4 mm.].

Base: Mostly truncate, cuneate if viewed along the suture.

Apex: Rounded to truncate.

Pistil point: Apical, negligible in length, depressed within the suture.

Stem: Medium.

Average length.—⅜″ [9.5 mm.].

Average width.—{fraction (3/16)}″ [4.8 mm.].

Skin:

Thickness.—Medium.

Texture.—Pubescent.

Tenacity.—Tenacious to flesh.

Astringency.—Nonastringent.

Tendency to crack.—None observed.

Color.—Very deep red [14. v.deep R] smoothly blending into a Moderate red orange [37. m.rO] background.

Down: Moderately abundant, short in length, does not roll up when rubbed.

Flesh:

Color.—Brilliant Yellow [83. brill.Y] with considerable Moderate red [15. m.R] streaking toward the stone.

Surface of pit cavity.—Covered with Dark red [16. d.R] fibers.

Amygdalin.—Scarce.

Juice.—Abundant, rich.

Texture.—Firm and crisp.

Fibers.—Abundant, fine.

Ripens.—Slightly earlier toward the apex and along the suture.

Flavor.—Sweet and sub-acid, typically 15 brix.

Aroma.—Slight.

Eating quality.—Very good.

STONE

Type: Freestone.

Form: Oval.

Hilum: Narrow.

Base: Straight.

Apex: Acute, with an average base angle of 75 degrees.

Sides: Equal.

Surface: Irregularly furrowed near the apex and pitted toward the base.

Ridges: Jagged toward the base.

External color: Dark brown [59. d.Br].

Average pit wall thickness: {fraction (7/32)}″ [5.6 mm.].

Average width: 1″ [25.4 mm.].

Average length: 1¼″ [31.8 mm.].

Average breadth: ¾″ [19.1 mm.].

Tendency to split: None observed.

Kernel:

Form.—Oval.

Pellicle color.—Light brown [57. l.Br].

Skin color.—Pale yellow [89. p.Y] when freshly removed.

Vein color.—Light brown [57. l.Br].

Taste.—Bitter.

Viable.—Yes.

Average width.—½″ [12.7 mm.].

Average length.—¾″ [19.1 mm.].

Amygdalin.—Abundant.

USE

Market: Fresh market and long distance shipping.

Keepinq quality: Good. Fruit quality observed to remain in good condition in after 21 days in standard cold room at 36° Fahrenheit [2° Celsius].

Shipping quality: Good.

Resistance to insects: No unusual susceptibilities noted.

Resistance to diseases: No unusual susceptibilities noted.

Other Notes

Although the new variety of peach tree possesses the described characteristics under the ecological conditions at Le Grand, Calif., in the central part of the San Joaquin Valley, it is to be expected that variations in these characteristics may occur when farmed in areas with different climatic conditions, different soil types, and/or varying cultural practices. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of peach tree, substantially as illustrated and described, that is most similar to ‘Diamond Princess’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,066) peach by producing fruit that is yellow in flesh color, nearly full red in skin color, and freestone in type, but is distinguished therefrom by blooming about ten days earlier and by producing fruit that is firmer in texture, larger in size, sub-acid instead of acid in flavor, and matures about twelve days earlier. 